Batsmen were on top in Ventnor's four-wicket victory over British Gas Southern League Division 1 rivals Liphook & Ripsley at Newclose, the Islanders’ third of the campaign.Electing to bat, Liphook scored steadily to reach 238-6. Opener Ryan Covey and Mainak Ray, each 37, made early inroads but progress was slow until a sixth-wicket partnership of 49 between Grant Rouse (36) and George Neave (22). Liphook's total was bloated by a remarkable 40 Ventnor wides, nine of them by Hugh Calloway.Ventnor the ball and ran between the wickets more aggressively than had their opponents, although the top four struggled to get past 20. The game turned when Jamie Miller at five contributed a decisive 37, flowed by a free flowing partnership of 81 between man-of-the-match Neil Westhorpe 67 not out and Toby Corbin (46). Ventnor finished on 238-6.